Three men jailed following drugs enforcement in Loughborough

A policing operation to tackle the supply of class A drugs in Loughborough has led to three men being jailed.

Travis Woolnough, Dipesh Patel and Charlie Shak were all arrested in March during County Lines Intensification Week – a week of action to crack down on drug dealing across the force area.

On Friday (12 July), at Leicester Crown Court, all three were sentenced to a total of eight years and eight months after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

It was in January this year that officers began to investigate a county line now known to be run by 21-year-old Woolnough.

The investigation was able to show that during a five-month period, between 30 October 2023 and 7 March 2024, the line was offering the sale of heroin and cocaine in the Loughborough area by way of sending bulk text messages – often to more than 200 recipients a day.

Once an order was placed, it appears in many instances the delivery of the drugs was organised by 21-year-old Patel, with 48-year-old Shak often being involved in preparing the drugs and occasionally making deliveries to the users.

In March this year, after a significant amount of evidence had been gathered, the three men were arrested.

When officers searched Woolnough’s address they found a large quantity of cocaine and heroin – with an estimated street value of nearly £19,000.

A search of Shak’s address also found 230 wraps of class A drugs. Shak was also seen on a video preparing wraps for sale after police examined a phone linked to the drugs line.

They were each sentenced to the following:

• Travis Woolnough, of Lee Circle, Leicester, was sentenced to three years in prison
• Dipesh Patel, of Prestold Road, Leicester, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison
• Charlie Shak, of Wide Lane, Hathern, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison

PC Alex Newbery, the officer in the case, said: “We know the sale of class A drugs ruins lives and can often lead to other forms of both criminal and antisocial behaviour.

“Tackling the supply of drugs remains a priority for the force and we will continue to carry out enforcements to stop drugs being sold of our streets and to ensure that those who are responsible are brought to justice.”

A 32-year-old man also arrested has been released under investigation.